What is a good amount of money to have after bills?
As a result, it's recommended to have at least 20 percent of your income left after paying bills, which will allow you to save for a comfortable retirement. If your employer offers matching 401(k) contributions, take advantage so you can maximize your investment dollars.
Key Takeaways. The 50/30/20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should be split between savings and debt repayment (20%) and everything else that you might want (30%).
Living on $1,000 per month is a challenge. From the high costs of housing, transportation and food, plus trying to keep your bills to a minimum, it would be difficult for anyone living alone to make this work. But with some creativity, roommates and strategy, you might be able to pull it off.
Sudden car repairs, medical emergencies or job loss can all lead to unexpected debt if you're not prepared. It's difficult to predict how much these or other emergencies could cost — but three to six months' worth of expenses is a good goal.
Try the 50/30/20 rule as a simple budgeting framework. Allow up to 50% of your income for needs, including debt minimums. Leave 30% of your income for wants. Commit 20% of your income to savings and debt repayment beyond minimums.
Fidelity suggests 1x your income
So the average 30-year-old should have $50,000 to $60,000 saved by Fidelity's standards. Assuming that your income stays at $50,000 over time, here are financial milestones by decade. These goals aren't set in stone. Other financial planners suggest slightly different targets.
The short answer to what happens if you invest $500 a month is that you'll almost certainly build wealth over time. In fact, if you keep investing that $500 every month for 40 years, you could become a millionaire. More than a millionaire, in fact.
But despite the larger pressures, they're not satisfied with their situation; 57% of respondents said the current state of their savings is stressing them out. Nearly one in four (22%) of U.S. adults have no emergency savings at all, Bankrate found—the second-lowest percentage in 13 years of polling.
Saving $1,000 per month can be a good sign, as it means you're setting aside money for emergencies and long-term goals. However, if you're ignoring high-interest debt to meet your savings goals, you might want to switch gears and focus on paying off debt first.
Living on $2,000 per month is doable, but you won't be able to live just anywhere. This is important because at the time of writing the average Social Security benefit paid is $1,701 per month.
Is 20K in savings good?
While $20K may not let you quit your job, it's enough to start building financial security, whether you max out your retirement accounts, invest in fine art, or divide your cash between multiple investments.
Saving $1,500 per month may be a good amount if it's feasible. In general, save as much as you can to reach your goals, whether that's $50 or $1,500. You could speak with a certified financial planner to help develop a plan for your finances if you aren't sure how much money to save regularly.
How much do you need? Everybody has a different opinion. Most financial experts suggest you need a cash stash equal to six months of expenses: If you need $5,000 to survive every month, save $30,000.
One example is the $1,000/month rule. Created by Wes Moss, a Certified Financial Planner, this strategy helps individuals visualize how much savings they should have in retirement. According to Moss, you should plan to have $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of disposable income in retirement.
For most, $10,000 is a lot of money. Typically, that amount of money doesn't just appear out of thin air without some financial strain. However, if you think about $10,000 as saving a little over $27 each day, it becomes much more realistic.
“By the time you're 40, you should have three times your annual salary saved. Based on the median income for Americans in this age bracket, $100K between 25-30 years old is pretty good; but you would need to increase your savings to reach your age 40 benchmark.”
Are you approaching 30? How much money do you have saved? According to CNN Money, someone between the ages of 25 and 30, who makes around $40,000 a year, should have at least $4,000 saved.
Data shows that the average 40-something has $77,400 in retirement savings. If you're 40 with $40,000, you're by no means doomed, but you may want to ramp up your contributions as much as you can. It's also important to invest your savings, so your money is able to grow over time.
Nearly Half of Americans Don't Have $500 in Savings
According to the survey, 49% of Americans have $500 or less in their savings account, with 36% reporting they have less than $100 saved up. This means that a small financial upset can cause these households to end up in debt — or more debt.
What will investing $400 a month do for you? If you have access to an IRA or 401(k) plan, your goal may be to get as close as possible to maxing out your annual contributions. But even if you can't do that, if you can part with $400 a month over the duration of your working years, you can build serious wealth.
How much will I have if I save $100 a month for 20 years?
If you invest $100 a month for this many years... | ...this is how much you'll end up with. |
---|---|
5 | $8,058.73 |
10 | $21,037.40 |
15 | $41,939.68 |
20 | $75,603.00 |
What Does Living Paycheck To Paycheck Mean? Living paycheck to paycheck means you spend all your income on your monthly living expenses – like your rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries and transportation – and have little to no money left over.
How Many Americans Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck? A 2023 survey conducted by Payroll.org highlighted that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, a 6% increase from the previous year. In other words, more than three-quarters of Americans struggle to save or invest after paying for their monthly expenses.
The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940 according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. Taken on their own, those numbers aren't incredibly helpful. There are a variety of decent retirement savings benchmarks out there, but how much money other people have isn't one of them.
About 29% of respondents have between $501 and $5,000 in their savings accounts, while the remaining 21% of Americans have $5,001 or more. Few hold much cash in their checking accounts as well. Of those surveyed, 60% report having $500 or less in their checking accounts, while only about 12% have $2,001 or more.
References
- https://www.snagajob.com/salary-calculator?pay=30&period=hour
- https://www.sj-r.com/story/business/2015/02/11/loads-americans-literally-hide-money/35235708007/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/savings/how-much-should-i-have-saved-by-30/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/emergency-fund-calculator
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/career-resources/what-are-the-highest-paying-jobs-in-the-u-s/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/20-000-good-amount-savings-160036732.html
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/buying-stocks/articles/im-40-with-40000-in-retirement-savings-am-i-doing-all-right/
- https://www.fastcompany.com/90872566/fight-for-15-hour-not-living-wage-time-20
- https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/tools-and-guides/50-30-20-rule/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/where-millionaires-keep-money-070638027.html
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Decent-Salary
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/average-monthly-expenses/
- https://www.usbank.com/wealth-management/financial-perspectives/financial-planning/extra-cash.html
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/most-millennials-have-less-than-$100k-in-retirement-savings:-should-you-be-concerned?time=1694620818
- https://www.self.inc/blog/how-much-money-should-I-save-by-30
- https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/places-to-save-your-extra-money/
- https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/retirement/how-much-do-i-need-to-retire
- https://thelazytrader.com/articles/relaxing/17-subtle-signs-someone-is-wealthy
- https://livingwage.mit.edu/articles/103-new-data-posted-2023-living-wage-calculator
- https://www.ejorgenson.com/blog/lifetime-of-expenses
- https://spiritfinancialcu.org/what-does-a-realistic-budget-look-like
- https://www.quicken.com/blog/monthly-expenses/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/where-americans-keeping-most-savings-200040926.html
- https://lifeover60.quora.com/How-much-cash-can-you-keep-at-home-legally-in-the-US?top_ans=62932392
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/investing/are-you-upper-middle-class/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/americans-5-favorite-cash-hiding-130032728.html
- https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/brief/foodpricesfornutrition
- https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2016/live-here-for-under-40k-photos.html
- https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/45000-a-year-is-how-much-an-hour/
- https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/average-household-budget/
- https://www.pranawealth.com/how-much-does-a-middle-class-american-need-to-save-for-retirement/
- https://www.quicken.com/blog/what-percentage-your-paycheck-should-you-spend-each-week/
- https://www.asset.expert/news/how-people-hide-assets
- https://fortune.com/2024/02/01/emergency-1000-expense-most-americans-broke-debt-bankrate/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/living-paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics-2024/
- https://www.nationwidevisas.com/usa-immigration/average-salary-in-usa/
- https://createandgo.com/how-to-make-1000-a-week
- https://www.unbiased.com/discover/banking/how-much-income-puts-you-in-the-top-1-5-or-10
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-budget
- https://www.snagajob.com/salary-calculator?pay=80000&period=year
- https://thehill.com/lobbying/4170972-15-an-hour-isnt-enough-u-s-workers-need-to-earn-a-living-wage/
- https://time.com/personal-finance/article/average-american-savings-account-balance/
- https://www.moneyunder30.com/how-little-can-you-live-on/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/040915/how-much-cash-should-i-keep-bank.asp
- https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article284363354.html
- https://www.quora.com/Is-300-enough-left-over-per-month-after-rent-for-bills-and-food-in-the-UK
- https://josephhollander.com/news-blog/illegal-large-amounts-cash/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/salary-income-needed-to-live-comfortably-in-us-cities/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-us-cities-where-retire-144820803.html
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wealthy-net-worth-considered-poor-190014440.html
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-ways-tell-middle-class-174814986.html
- https://www.cityofinglewood.org/178/Low-Moderate-Income-Household-Levels
- https://ktla.com/news/california/this-is-how-much-you-need-to-earn-to-live-comfortably-in-california/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/24/how-much-money-americans-have-in-savings.html
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/the-average-retirement-savings-by-age-and-why-you-need-more
- https://www.ally.com/stories/save/savings-by-age-how-much-to-save-in-your-20s-30s-40s-and-beyond/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live-1-000-per-month-200011859.html
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-is-too-much-money-for-a-high-yield-savings-account/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/most-least-expensive-states-groceries-160108810.html
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/how-much-should-i-have-in-savings
- https://www.quicken.com/blog/taking-inventory-your-personal-finances-how-much-your-paycheck-should-you-budget-bills-s/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-much-should-i-spend-on-groceries
- https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/sociology/social-and-global-stratification/types-of-social-classes-of-people
- https://personalfinanceblogs.com/is-50000-a-good-salary-for-a-single-person/
- https://www.unfcu.org/financial-wellness/50-30-20-rule/
- https://www.fox29.com/news/middle-class-income-salary-2024
- https://www.debtfreedr.com/10-things-millionaires-do-not-spend-money-on/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/20-states-highest-minimum-wage-023854276.html
- https://localfirstbank.com/article/how-much-money-should-i-have-saved-by-the-time-i-am-30/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/will-cash-die-out
- https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/27/how-much-money-family-of-4-needs-to-live-comfortably-in-us-cities.html
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/income-considered-middle-class-2024-160007340.html
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/surviving-on-1000-a-month/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-much-should-i-save-each-month
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/jobs-that-pay-75k-a-year
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/business/hr-payroll/average-salary-us/
- https://www.opers.org/financial-wellness/50-20-30-calculator/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/2023/12/04/the-assets-households-own-and-the-debts-they-carry/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/022916/what-502030-budget-rule.asp
- https://www.ellevest.com/magazine/personal-finance/how-much-keep-cash
- https://students.1fbusa.com/money-smarts/how-to-save-10000-in-a-year
- https://www.fool.com/retirement/2022/03/26/got-400-a-month-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-a-3-mill/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/how-to-save-1000-a-month/
- https://www.thriventfunds.com/insights/investing-essentials/investing-50-a-month-could-add-up-nicely-for-your-retirement.html
- https://www.jsb.bank/resources/how-to-create-a-budget
- https://www.firstrepublic.com/insights-education/a-look-at-the-average-americans-monthly-expenses
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_middle_class_in_the_United_States
- https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/03/what-it-takes-to-be-considered-wealthy-in-12-major-us-cities.html
- https://edvoy.com/countries/study-in-us/cost-of-living/
- https://www.bluetreesavings.com/post/the-3-rules-of-wealth
- https://www.indeed.com/q-work-from-home-no-degree-80k-jobs.html
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-reasons-its-so-expensive-to-be-single-in-america
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-cash-americans-keep-stashed-130030621.html
- https://ktla.com/news/california/this-is-how-much-single-people-in-california-need-to-earn-to-live-comfortably/
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/monthly-expenses/
- https://time.com/personal-finance/article/how-to-invest-20k/
- https://www.choosefi.com/financial-basics/save-on-big-three-expenses/
- https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-household-budget
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/american-average-monthly-expenses
- https://www.earnest.com/blog/food-budget-where-are-your-dollars-going/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-cash-keep-home-times-180337690.html
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/how-to-make-%24300-fast%3A-21-quick-financial-solutions
- https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/research-third-of-americans-feel-safer-with-cash
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/buying-stocks/articles/heres-what-happens-when-you-invest-500-a-month/
- https://smartasset.com/data-studies/state-salary-living-comfortably-2024
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/research/average-monthly-expenses/
- https://www.financialsamurai.com/how-much-income-do-you-consider-to-be-rich/
- https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/where-do-i-fall-in-the-american-economic-class-system
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nearly-half-less-500-savings-170050488.html
- https://www.talent.com/convert?salary=1200&start=week&end=hour
- https://smartasset.com/data-studies/salary-needed-live-comfortably-2024
- https://eringobler.com/minimalist-budget/
- https://slavic401k.com/boost-retirement-savings-with-the-1000-a-month-rule/
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/buying-stocks/articles/will-investing-100-a-month-really-make-a-difference-in-your-net-worth/
- https://www.quora.com/How-much-rent-can-I-afford-on-a-70-000-salary-in-California
- https://ofdollarsanddata.com/what-is-considered-rich/
- https://www.rocketmoney.com/learn/personal-finance/living-paycheck-to-paycheck
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/40-awesome-places-retire-3-135503265.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/09/most-of-americans-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck-heres-why.html